Sir Alex: Ole in Ruud health
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's return to goal-scoring form has come at the perfect time for the Premiership side.
The Norwegian put two injury ravaged years behind him to score twice in a 4-0 friendly win over Orlando Pirates in South Africa, as The Red Devils contemplated a future without Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman's days at Old Trafford appear numbered after his request to leave the club as a result of his falling out with his boss at the end of last season, when Ferguson even denied him the chance to appear in Roy Keane's testimonial game.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are keen on the World Cup striker, and the Spanish capital looks his most likely destination for a potential transfer that could leave United light up front.
However Ferguson has now taken great heart from the performance of Solskjaer, whose last competitive goal for the club came in a 5-0 UEFA Champions League win over Panathinaikos in September 2003.
Whilst revealing that he is pondering whether to allow Italian starlet Giuseppe Rossi to leave the club on loan, Ferguson stated his belief that the popular Solskjaer could be a real contender for the United strike-force in the coming season.
"Sometimes forwards freeze in front of goal," said Ferguson. "Ole warms up.
"His performance was a massive bonus for us because he has been out for two years, so to have him back and see him on the pitch was fantastic.
"It is like having a new signing.
"Over the years, we have always had four strikers.
"At the moment we only definitely have Louis Saha and Wayne Rooney because we are considering whether to let Giuseppe Rossi leave on loan, Alan Smith won't be back until the end of August or beginning of September even if we consider him as a striker and we don't know where Ruud will be.
"Now Ole has come along and shown he could be the third.
"When he got that first chance, you just knew Ole was going to take it.
"There are very few players in our game who you feel so confident about doing that."
Ferguson also added that he had no more news to report with regard to van Nistelrooy's future.
The Norwegian put two injury ravaged years behind him to score twice in a 4-0 friendly win over Orlando Pirates in South Africa, as The Red Devils contemplated a future without Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman's days at Old Trafford appear numbered after his request to leave the club as a result of his falling out with his boss at the end of last season, when Ferguson even denied him the chance to appear in Roy Keane's testimonial game.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are keen on the World Cup striker, and the Spanish capital looks his most likely destination for a potential transfer that could leave United light up front.
However Ferguson has now taken great heart from the performance of Solskjaer, whose last competitive goal for the club came in a 5-0 UEFA Champions League win over Panathinaikos in September 2003.
Whilst revealing that he is pondering whether to allow Italian starlet Giuseppe Rossi to leave the club on loan, Ferguson stated his belief that the popular Solskjaer could be a real contender for the United strike-force in the coming season.
"Sometimes forwards freeze in front of goal," said Ferguson. "Ole warms up.
"His performance was a massive bonus for us because he has been out for two years, so to have him back and see him on the pitch was fantastic.
"It is like having a new signing.
"Over the years, we have always had four strikers.
"At the moment we only definitely have Louis Saha and Wayne Rooney because we are considering whether to let Giuseppe Rossi leave on loan, Alan Smith won't be back until the end of August or beginning of September even if we consider him as a striker and we don't know where Ruud will be.
"Now Ole has come along and shown he could be the third.
"When he got that first chance, you just knew Ole was going to take it.
"There are very few players in our game who you feel so confident about doing that."
Ferguson also added that he had no more news to report with regard to van Nistelrooy's future.
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